'There are no routine traffic stops'

Pullover attempt ends in gunfire at schoolyard

STOCKTON - New details emerged Thursday in the investigation into a gunbattle between authorities and a group of men who opened fire on officers with a high-powered assault rifle Wednesday evening at a southwest Stockton elementary school.

STOCKTON - New details emerged Thursday in the investigation into a gunbattle between authorities and a group of men who opened fire on officers with a high-powered assault rifle Wednesday evening at a southwest Stockton elementary school.

Authorities released the names of the four men who were arrested in connection with the shootout, which drew hundreds of people out of their homes to observe police activity in their Weston Ranch neighborhood. Police identified the men as Deandre Adams, 22; Terrance Lee Adams, 23; Juan Julius Barnes, 19; and Jose Mario Gonzalez, 30.

All four were arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of an assault rifle, possession of a high-capacity magazine and attempted murder of a police officer, authorities said.

Three of the men have been booked into the San Joaquin County Jail. The other, Deandre Adams, remained hospitalized Thursday after suffering multiple gunshot wounds in the shootout, authorities said.

Three San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies and one Stockton police officer have been placed on three-day paid administrative leaves, which is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings. The Stockton Police Department identified Officer Houston Sensabaugh as the police officer who returned fire in the shootout. The Sheriff's Office said it would identify its deputies when they return from administrative leave.

No officers or deputies were injured, but their lives were endangered when a traffic stop turned into a fierce gunfight, authorities said.

"This incident just reinforces the fact that there are no routine traffic stops," said Officer Joe Silva, a spokesman for the Police Department. "Pulling over a vehicle is inherently dangerous. For the majority of traffic stops, we are unaware who we are pulling over. We do not know if the driver or a passenger is armed with a weapon, wanted for a crime or planning some type of an assault on us. This is why, as officers, we need to be vigilant every moment and never take anyone for granted or underestimate someone's potential to harm us."

According to police, members of the Community Response Team first noticed three of the four men in a dark-colored Mazda sport utility vehicle with paper plates in the 3400 block of South Manthey Road. The men got out of the vehicle and acted suspiciously while entering several stores, authorities said. Police later determined that the Mazda was reported stolen in Sacramento, officials said.

The officers alerted other Community Response Team members and sheriff's deputies assigned to the multiagency San Joaquin County gang task force. At 6:15 p.m., a deputy arrived in a marked patrol car. When the deputy drove into the parking lot, the three men retrieved a duffel bag from the Mazda and got into a silver Nissan Altima driven by another man, authorities said.

The deputy driving the marked patrol car attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver of the Altima didn't yield until he reached a parking lot at August Knodt Elementary School in the 3900 block of EWS Woods Boulevard, about a mile away, police said.

Deandre Adams and Gonzalez then fled from the vehicle on foot, running toward the back of the school. Deandre Adams was carrying the duffel bag containing the assault rifle, and Barnes was armed with a handgun, police said.

As deputies pursued the men into the schoolyard, Deandre Adams opened fire with the assault rifle, authorities said. Authorities returned fire, striking Deandre Adams multiple times, police said.

Deandre Adams was taken to a hospital, where he underwent surgery, police said. Authorities have not disclosed his condition or the extent of his injuries.

Dozens of police officers and sheriff's deputies converged on the scene, many armed with assault rifles. Some established a perimeter around the campus, and others searched the school grounds while a Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office helicopter circled overhead.

Barnes was found on the roof of a school building a short time later, authorities said. A SWAT team brought Barnes down from the roof about 8:20 p.m., two hours after the standoff began.

"These officers are assigned to a highly dangerous unit, which primarily goes after violent and active criminals, and this was a situation where a suspect was armed with an assault weapon and was willing to use it against law enforcement," said Deputy Les Garcia, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office. "We're extremely fortunate that none of our officers were injured during this exchange."